Corus, Discovery Kids pact on new prodco

Based in Canada, the new venture will produce linear and digital children's content for global delivery.

Corus Entertainment-owned Nelvana and Discovery Communications have formed a new venture designed to produce and distribute kids content for global linear and digital markets.

Based in Canada, the unnamed venture will operate independently of Corus, Discovery and Nelvana’s other services. Both Corus and Discovery Kids Latin America will commission content from the new prodco. The venture will also acquire IP rights to brands, characters and concepts from Nelvana and Discovery for future development and production.

A spokesperson for Corus told Playback Daily that the venture will own the shows it creates and will hire “talent and artists as required to produce the content.

“Although it is not the primary goal of the venture, we are open to working with independents as well.”

The venture serves to boost Nelvana’s production and distribution business on a global scale, as well as bolster Discovery’s kids business. Nelvana is behind globally recognized properties like Babar, Franklin, Max & Ruby, Ranger Rob, Mysticons and Hotel Transylvania: The Series, whileDiscovery Kids is currently its parentco’s market-leading pay TV channel and TVE service in Latin America.

The new venture is the latest move in an ongoing relationship between the Canadian and Latin American companies, as Nelvana currently provides Discovery Kids with several popular series including The ZhuZhus (pictured) and Backyardigans.